EFCC Accuses an Unnamed Religious Sect of Laundering Money for Terrorists

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday shared how the agency found out that a religious sect in Nigeria was involved in money laundering for terrorists. The EFCC leader also said that they discovered another religious group shielding a money launderer after tracking some allegedly laundered money to the organization's bank account.

Olukoyede revealed this information on Wednesday, January 31, at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during a one-day dialogue organized by the EFCC on "Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption." He emphasized that various religious institutions, bodies, organizations, and sects are also involved in money laundering. Olukoyede added that when the officers reached the religious organization regarding the money laundering issue, a restraining order was issued, hindering their investigation. His statement partly says, "A religious sect in this country had been found to be laundering money for terrorists."

The event was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Bola Tinubu's minister of budget and national planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, minister of justice and the attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the immediate past minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola. The gathering was part of the EFCC's efforts to campaign against corruption, money laundering, and other vices among the youth. You can find more information about this at